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HARMONY 

CEIvrTENNJAL 


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OF    THE 

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November  17-24,  1907 


Containing  a  Historical  Sketch  of  the  Church 

and  Congregation 

by 

M.  JENNIE    LOVE 


Press  of  Beers  &  Frey 
Trenton,  N.  J. 


prpsent  (PrgantzattDtt 

Rev.  EDWARD  SNYDER. 

Suling  SUirrs 
Irwin  Miller,  Thomas  F.  DeWitt, 

John  L.  Cline,  Charles  Ramsay. 

tStttsUts 

Hiram  Buchman,  President  and  Treasurer. 

Jesse  Raub,  Secretary 

Howard  Cline,  J.  M.  Amy, 

John  Stopp,  George  Lommason. 

9abbatl|  &rtfaol 

Jesse  Raub,  Supt.  J.  M.  Mackey,  Sec'y 

Irwin  Miller,  Asst.  Supt.   Thomas  F.  DeWitt,  Treas. 

George  Lommason,  Librarian. 

Mrs.  Geo.  Lommason,  Organist. 

Mrs.  Edward  Snyder,  President. 

Mrs.  Irwin  Miller,  Secretary. 

Mrs.  Jesse  Raub,   Treasurer. 

Miss  Martha  Miller,  President. 

Mrs.  J.   H.   Miller,   Secretary. 

Mrs.  Jesse  Raub,  Treasurer. 

Oliver  Rice,  Sexton. 


Harmony  Centennial 


Stat  of  Sulittd  lEUtrra  lit; 

(  Henry  Winter 
J   Peter  Young, 
I   Daniel  Osmon, 
1^  John  Connelly, 

Benjamin  Youmans, 

Barnet  DeWitt, 

Peter  Kline, 

Moses  Allen, 

Peter  Winter, 

Phineas  Barber, 

Jacob  DeWitt, 

Jacob  Cline, 

James  DeWitt, 


n  ^VLW  ^prnph  tlfp  CUtfurrtf 

Issac  DeWitt, 
William  Merritt, 
Isaac  Vannatta, 
William  Vannatta, 
Joseph  Koch, 
George  Brakeley, 
Jacob  Shimer, 
John  L.  Cline, 
Irwin  Miller, 
Thomas  F.  DeWitt, 
Garner  H.  Cline, 
Charles  Ramsay, 
Edward  L.  Fine. 


A  Hundred  Years!    O!  Cov'nant  God, 

We  bless  Thee  for  the  past! 
Make  this  dear  spot  Thine  own  abode 

While  time  and  nature  last. 
As  generations  come  and  go. 

Oh  !    make  this  place  Thy  home  : 
Thee  may  our  children's  children  know 

A  Hundred  Years  to  Come.' 

D.X.J. 


Harmony  Centennial 


^urcraaton  of  Paatara 

Rev.  Garner  A.  Hunt,   from   1807  to   1818;  pastor   11 
years. 

Rev.  Lemuel  Fordham  Leake,  from  1818  to  1828;  stated 
supply  and  pastor  10  years. 

Rev.  Robert  Love,  from  1832  to  1838;   stated  supply  and 
pastor  6  years. 

Rev.  John  J.  Carrell,  from  1839  to  1848;  pastor  9  years. 

Rev.  John  Skinner,  D.D.,  from  1849  to  1853;  pastor  4 
years. 

Rev.  Andrew  TuUy,  from  1853  to  1861;  pastor  8  years. 

Rev.  David  Kerr  Freeman,  from  1862  to  1869;    pastor 
7  years. 

Rev.  Henry  Egidius  Spayd,  from  1870  to  1884;  pastor 
14  years. 

Rev.  Roderick  Provost  Cobb,  from  1885  to  1888;  pastor 
3  years. 

Rev.  Isaac  Davison  Decker,  from  1888  tol893;    pastor 
5  years. 

Rev.  Joseph  D.  Hillman,  from  1894  to  1901;  pastor  7 
years. 

Rev.  Leopold  Reid  Burrows,  from  1902  to  1904;  pastor 
2>4  years. 

Rev.  Edward  Snyder,  from  1905. 


Harmony  Centennial 


HE  17th  of  November,  1907,  marks  an  era 
of  unusual  importance  in  the  history  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Harmony.  While 
the  oldest  records  do  not  contain  the  exact 
date  of  the  organization  of  the  Church,  it 
appears  that  the  first  church  officers  were 
elected  in  the  year  1807  and  the  first  church 
building  was  dedicated  on  November  17th  of  that  year. 
In  commemmoration  of  this  event  by  the  observance  of 
the  One  Hundredth  Anniversary  of  the  church's  history 
the  following  programme  was  arranged  to  suit  the  con- 
venience of  those  who  were  invited  to  take  part : 

The  Presbytery  of  Newton  was  represented  by  the 
Moderator,  Rev.  Edward  Snyder,  the  present  pastor  of 
the  church,  and  the  stated  clerk.  Rev.  E.  Clark  Cline, 
of  Phillipsburg. 

On  Sabbath  morning,  November  17th,  a  large  con- 
gregation, composed  of  the  families  of  the  church,  with 
a  large  representation  of  the  M.  E.  Church  of  Lo\ver 
Harmony,  assembled  for  worship  at  the  hour  of  10:45 
A.  M.  Greenwich  and  Bloomsbury  Churches  were  also 
represented. 

The  day  was  an  ideal  one  for  the  season  of  the  year. 

The  Rev.  E.  Clarke  Cline,  a  son  of  the  Harmony 

Church,  preached  an  able  sermon   from   "My  Church," 

Matt.  16:18,  "Upon  this  rock  will  I  build  my  church  and 

the  gates  of  hell  shall  not  prevail  against  it." 

Miss  M.  Jennie  Love,  the  younger  daughter  of 
Rev.  Robert  Love,  who  was  pastor  of  the  church  from 
1832  to  1838,  read  a  most  interesting  and  comprehensive 
sketch  of  the  history  of  the  church  for  the  hundred  years 
that  are  past. 


Harmony  Centennial  7 

In  the  evening  Rev.  Joseph  R.  Hillman,  of  New 
Milford,  Pa.,  a  former  pastor,  preached  from  Psalm 
84:1,  "How  amiable  are  thy  tabernacles,  O  Lord  of 
Hosts."  Mr.  Cline  followed  with  an  address  reminiscent 
of  the  people  and  life  of  the  congregation  for  more  than 
fifty  years  back. 

The  service  arranged  for  Monday  evening  was  can- 
celled on  account  of  the  sudden  and  serious  illness  of  Rev. 
Roderick  P.  Cobb,  a  former  pastor,  now  the  rector  of 
St.  Paul's  Episcopal  Church  of  Doylestown,  Pa. 

On  Tuesday  evening  Rev.  Hugh  Walker  brought 
the  greetings  of  the  Greenwich  Church,  which  claims  to 
be  the  mother  of  the  Harmony  Church,  and  delivered  a 
most  practical  and  interesting  discourse  from  Gal.  6 :7 
and  Rev.  22:7. 

Wednesday  evening  was  spent  in  a  Prayer  and  Praise 
Service,  lead  by  the  pastor,  who  gave  an  address  from 
Psalm  107:8,  "Oh  that  men  would  praise  the  Lord  for 
his  goodness  and  for  his  wonderful  works  to  the  children 
of  men!" 

Friday  evening  Rev.  T.  T.  Mutchler,  M.D.,  a  son 
of  the  church  and  secretary  of  the  Philadelphia  Sabbath 
Association,  gave  an  address  based  upon  the  "History  of 
the  ten  lepers,"  taking  for  his  theme  "Appreciation,"  and 
made  a  most  earnest  and  touching  appeal  to  the  uncon- 
verted to  repent  and  believe  on  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

It  was  arranged  to  close  the  services  by  a  sermon 
to  be  delivered  by  the  pastor  on  Sabbath,  November  24th, 
on  the  theme  "Lessons  from  the  Past,"  but  the  day  was 
stormy  and  there  were  no  services  either  morning  or 
evening. 

E.  S. 


Harmony  Centennial 


l|tat0rtral  BktXt\( 


E  HAVE  assembled  here  to  "Call  to  remem- 
brance the  former  days."  It  is  a  great  privi- 
lege and  joy  to  unite  with  you  in  celebrating 
the  One  Hundredth  Anniversary  of  this 
church.  The  Christian  ever  turns  to  the 
church  of  his  inheritance  or  choice  with 
affectionate  regard,  and  its  history,  back  to 
its  feeble  beginning,  is  of  the  highest  interest. 

While  Harmony  Presbyterian  Church  cannot  claim 
the  historic  place  to  which  the  Greenwich  Mother  of 
Churches  is  entitled,  it  yet  has  an  honored  history. 

For  a  hundred  years  this  has  been  consecrated 
ground.  It  has  had  a  hundred  years  of  gospel  preaching 
by  able,  godly  men.  Our  fathers  and  mothers  have  wor- 
shipped here.  It  has  been  the  scene  of  struggles,  defeats 
and  triumphs.  Precious  revival  seasons  have  been  en- 
joyed. Many  have  been  born  anew  into  the  kingdom, 
and,  sad  to  say,  some  have  rejected  the  offers  of  salvation. 
Baptismal  covenant  vows  have  been  made,  the  solemn  rite 
administered  hundreds  of  times,  and  public  professions  of 
Christ  made  and  witnessed.  How  often  we  have  gathered 
at  the  sacramental  feast  and  renewed  our  vows.  From 
these  sacred  precincts  the  mortal  remains  of  our  loved 
ones  have  been  borne  to  their  long  home  in  the  cemetery, 
surrounding  this  church;    and  some  day  these  graves  will 


*The  Harmony  congregation,  desiring  to  preserve  in  printed  form  the 
historical  facts  given  in  my  sketch  of  the  cdurch  at  the  celebration  November 
17,  1907,  some  unimportant  statements  have  been  omitted  and  more  of  the 
early  history  of  the  church  included.  I  have  been  aided  by  interesting  notes 
of  the  late  Rev.  H.  E.  Spayd,  and  also  by  papers  left  by  my  father. 

M.  J.  L. 
Trenton,  N.  J.,  August  3,  1908. 


10  Harmony  Centennial 

open  and  each  and  all  of  us  stand  before  the  judgment 
seat  of  Christ  to  answer  for  these  privileges.  Solemn 
thought;    what  shall  the  answer  be? 

In  our  retrospective  glance  at  the  past  history  of  this 
church  it  will  be  interesting  to  note  the  origin  of  some  of 
the  people,  who,  braving  the  hardships  of  the  wilderness, 
settled  here  and  in  due  time  founded  our  churches;  and 
we  will  endeavor  to  trace  the  founding  and  progress  of 
this  church  under  its  honored  pastors  to  the  present  time. 

And  right  here  we  may  say  that  Harmony  at  the 
middle  of  the  last  century  was  a  more  stirring  place  than 
it  is  now.  Before  the  advent  of  the  railroad  along  the 
river  there  was  a  mail  stage  running  from  Easton  to 
Newton,  on  alternate  days.  We  still  hear  it  rumbling 
along  on  a  Winter  morning,  arousing  our  slumbers.  In 
the  Summer  season  a  daily  stage  was  run  between  Easton 
and  Belvidere  to  accommodate  the  Summer  visitors, 
chiefly  from  Philadelphia,  going  to  Belvidere  and  the 
Water  Gap.  The  Pauls,  Greens,  Maxwells,  Robesons, 
Sherrerds  and  Kennedys  were  then  in  Belvidere,  and 
there  was  much  driving  through  here.  This  was  also  the 
route  for  farmers  from  the  upper  part  of  the  county  to 
convey  their  grain  to  Easton  market.  Long  lines  of 
teams  went  to  and  fro.  There  were  carpenters  and  un- 
dertakers here,  wheelrights,  blacksmiths,  tailors,  two  dry 
goods  and  grocery  stores  at  Upper  and  Lower  Harmony, 
post  office  and  hotel.  The  schools  in  Winter  were  very 
large.  Hutchinson's  sawmills  were  in  full  play,  also  sev- 
eral flour  or  grist  mills  in  vicinity.  There  was  no  agri- 
cultural machinery  then,  and  the  large  and  productive 
harvest  season  was  almost  a  festive  time  among  the  pros- 
perous  farmers. 

But  we  must  go  back  to  the  time,  perhaps  a  little 
more  than  two  centuries  ago,  when  the  Indians  of  the 
Lenni  Lenape  tribe  dwelt  here  in  their  wigwams,  roamed 
hills  and  valleys  in  search  of  game  and  paddled  their 
canoes   along  the   Delaware.      The   site   of   Phillipsburg 


Harmony  Centennial  1 1 

in  1654  was  an  Indian  village,  called  Chinte  Wink, 
and  was  the  favorite  fishing  grounds  of  the  Indians 
in  this  section.  To  some  of  us  it  does  not  seem  so 
strange,  for  in  our  childhood  the  haunts  of  the  Indians 
were  spoicen  of,  the  boys  found  their  arrows  and  stone 
hatchets  on  the  hillside,  and  listened  with  wide  awake 
interest  to  the  Indian  legends  related  by  the  "oldest  in- 
habitants." Perhaps  some,  strongly  attached  to  these 
"happy  hunting  grounds,"  lingered  here  after  the  main 
body  had  gone  westward,  and  there  were  persons  of 
partly  Indian  descent  among  us.  We  do  not  know  just 
when  the  earliest  white  settlers  came,  probably  at  the 
beginning  of  the  18th  century.  Godfrey  Person  was 
among  the  first  we  know  about.  The  Davisons  were  very 
early  settlers.  The  Miller  brothers,  Andrew  and  Peter, 
were  Germans  and  through  several  transfers  from  George 
Reading,  who  was  the  owner  in  1750,  came  into  posses- 
sion of  their  land  in  1796.  Philip  Kline  emigrated  from 
Germany  in  1720,  settled  in  Somerset  county,  and  later 
came  to  the  beautiful  valley  over  the  hill,  now  occupied 
in  part  by  Peter  Kline,  the  fifth  generation.  Godfrey 
Kline's  wife  was  a  Prussian.  Peter  Young  was  a  son  of 
the  Revolution,  of  German  descent.  The  Houghs  and 
Merritts  were  of  English  extraction.  The  Merritts  were 
sons  of  the  Revolution  and  settled  in  "  The  Barrens," 
as  it  was  called,  then  a  wilderness.  Later  it  became 
Pleasant  Grove  and  Buttonwood  Grove.  The  Vannattas 
were  of  Holland  extraction.  The  DeWitts  were  also 
from  Holland.  Barnet  DeWitt,  Sr.,  owned  along  the 
hillside  between  Lopatcong  and  Harmony.  The  other 
DeWitt  family  west  to  the  Delaware.  The  Clines,  Kochs, 
Oberlings,  Hesses  and  Teels  were  Germans.  The  Teels 
settled  in  Knowlton  township  before  the  Revolution.  The 
Gardners  were  of  Scotch  descent. 

The  Davisons,  Ramsays  and  Fairs  were  Scotch- 
Irish.  Adam  Ramsay,  Sr.,  was  married  in  the  family  of 
Brigadier  General  Maxwell,  who  came  to  Greenwich  in 


12  Harmony  Centennial 

1747.  John  Fair,  a  relative  of  the  Maxwells,  came  from 
the  north  of  Ireland  to  Greenwich,  and  about  1796  settled 
on  the  farm  now  owned  in  part  by  his  grandson,  Thomas 
Fair  DeWitt. 

In  the  old  White  burying  ground,  near  Roxburg, 
are  the  names  of  Joseph  Brackley,  who  died  September, 
1764.  Robert  Davison  died  in  1784,  aged  82  years.  His 
wife,  Jennette  Davison,  died  in  1760,  and  Mary  Davison 
Middaugh  died  in  1751. 

Mention  of  these  show  that  the  people  founding 
this  church  were  of  English,  German,  Holland,  Prussian, 
Scotch  and  Irish  descent.  The  early  settlers  were  not 
without  religious  training,  shown  by  their  desire  for  pub- 
lic worship.  Mrs.  John  Fair  came  from  the  old  Deep 
Run  Church,  Bucks  county.  Pa.,  founded  in  1732,  and 
Greenwich  had  preaching  as  early  as  1739. 

In  1740  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick  ap- 
pointed supplies  for  Greenwich  on  the  Delaware,  which 
means  Belvidere  and  Oxford  (or  Axford,  as  it  was  then 
called),  and  Mansfield  Wood-house  now  Washington. 
Harmony  township  was  a  part  of  Greenwich  and  Oxford 
townships  until  1839.  Between  1740  and  1744  David 
Brainard  labored  among  the  Indians  along  the  Delaware. 
His  house,  a  rude  cabin,  stood  about  half  a  mile  from  the 
banks  of  Martin's  Creek,  not  very  far  from  the  Lower 
Mt.  Bethel  Church.  A  stone  marks  the  spot.  We  know 
from  Brainard's  diary  that  he  preached  in  Greenwich  and 
Oxford  townships,  whether  or  not  directly  in  this  region 
we  cannot  tell. 

Rev.  John  Roseborough  was  the  first  settled  pastor  at 
Greenwich.  He  was  followed  by  the  Rev.  Joseph  Treat, 
but  Rev.  William  Sloan  was  the  first  minister  to  labor  in 
this  part  of  the  township,  of  whom  we  have  heard,  as  early 
as  1803,  or  perhaps  earlier,  as  he  came  to  Greenwich  in 
1797.  He  preached  in  barns,  groves  and  private  houses, 
and  exercised  pastoral  oversight  in  this  region.  Mrs. 
Love,  wife  of  the  third  pastor,  was  baptized  by  him  in 


Harmony  Centennial  13 

Andrew  Miller's  barn,  and  Mr.  Hunt,  the  first  pastor, 
preached  his  first  sermon  here  in  a  grove  near  Stony  Creek 
bridge,  on  Godfrey  Kline's  land. 

In  1805  the  people  formed  themselves  into  a  society 
and  Mr.  Sloan  called  it  his  congregation.  Some  of  the 
people  were  members  of  his  church,  going  all  that  dis- 
tance on  horseback  and  in  farm  wagons.  And  we  mention 
here  the  interest  the  successors  of  Mr.  Sloan  in  Green- 
wich: Rev.  D.  X.  Junkin,  D.D.,  Rev.  A.  H.  Hand,  D.D., 
Rev.  Thomas  S.  Long,  and  their  successors  have  taken  in 
this  church.  Mr.  Long's  labors  in  revival  services  are 
well  remembered. 

In  1806  on  application  the  Presbytery  sent  supplies 
to  Harmony  Society  as  follows :  Rev.  William  B.  Sloan, 
to  preach  second  Sabbath  in  June  at  Mr.  Miller's;  Rev. 
William  Barclay,  in  July,  at  Mr.  Winter's;  Rev.  Mr. 
Rice,  in  August,  at  Mr.  Kline's,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Boyd,  in 
September,  at  Mr.  Snyder's,  along  the  turnpike. 

In  that  same  year,  1806,  a  movement  was  made  for 
the  erection  of  a  "meeting  house."  Henry  Winter,  Sr., 
and  Andrew  Miller  were  appointed  a  committee  to  cir- 
culate subscription  papers  and  supervise  the  building. 
They  met  with  much  encouragement  and  the  "meeting 
house"  was  ready  for  worship  the  next  year.  It  was  a 
frame  structure,  costing  $1,466.07.  The  high  pulpit, 
with  a  sounding  board,  reached  by  winding  stairs  and 
with  a  door  to  shut  in  the  preacher,  was  at  the  north  end 
of  the  church  facing  the  doors  as  it  is  now.  Major  Jacob 
Miller  was  precentor,  his  seat  in  front  of  the  pulpit.  The 
men  sat  on  one  side  of  the  church,  the  women  on  the  other 
side.  There  were  galleries,  and  stoves  with  pipes  running 
along  under  the  galleries.  These  stoves  may  have  been 
put  in  some  time  after  the  building  was  erected,  as  we 
know  it  was  customary  for  the  older  ladies  to  carry  foot 
stoves  in  the  early  days  of  the  church. 

The  "meeting  house"  was  dedicated  the  third  Sab- 
bath in  November,  1807.   Rev.  Garner  A.  Hunt  preached 


14  Harmony  Centennial 

the  dedicatory  sermon.  The  first  trustees  were :  Godfrey 
Kline,  Henry  Winter,  Andrew  Miller,  Benjamin  You- 
mans  and  Moses  Allen.  The  first  elders  were :  Henry 
Winter,  Peter  Young,  David  Osmun  and  John  Connelly, 
who  some  time  afterwards  removed  to  Mt.  Bethel.  It  is 
not  known  just  when  the  church  was  organized.  Previous 
to  this  it  was  called  by  Presbytery  "Harmony  Society"; 
now  it  became  "Harmony  Congregation." 

The  Rev.  Garner  A.  Hunt  had  been  admitted  to 
Presbytery  in  April  from  the  Baptist  Association  of  Phila- 
delphia, having  "renounced  the  peculiar  tenets  of  that 
church."  He  was  called  to  Harmony  September  29th. 
The  call  was  presented  to  Presbytery  October  6th  and  he 
was  installed  November  3,  1807,  a  few  days  after  the 
dedication  of  the  church.  Rev.  Mr.  Sloan  preached  the 
sermon.  Rev.  John  Boyd  had  been  appointed  to  charge 
the  minister,  but  was  absent,  and  the  Moderator  per- 
formed the  duty.  The  Rev.  Holloway  W.  Hunt,  brother 
of  the  pastor,  "gave  an  exhortation  to  the  people,"  and 
thus  was  constituted  the  first  pastoral  relation  in  this 
church. 

Newton  Presbytery  was  a  part  of  New  Brunswick 
Presbytery  until  1817.  We  have  often  heard  of  the  dig- 
nified bearing  of  the  ministers  of  the  early  days.  Among 
them  were  Revs.  Brownlee,  Kirkpatrick,  Joseph  Shafer, 
John  Flavel  Clark  and  Joseph  Campbell.  Rev.  Mr. 
Sloan  is  described  by  Dr.  Junkin  as  the  finest  of  all. 
"Erect,  slender,  with  stately  bearing  and  impressive 
presence." 

Mr.  Hunt  labored  here  eleven  years,  1807-1818. 
Until  1813  he  gave  all  his  time  to  Harmony,  we  suppose 
for  a  very  small  compensation.  Soon  after  Mr.  Hunt 
settled  here  the  people  on  Scotts  Mountain  requested  him 
to  preach  for  them  on  week  days  and  they  would  aid  in 
his  support.  Mr.  Hunt  proposed  to  them  that  they  should 
unite  with  Harmony;  he  would  consider  them  a  part  of 
his  charge,  preach  for  them  once  a  month  on  week  days 


Harmony  Centennial  IS 

and  occasionally  on  Sabbath  afternoon.  He  continued 
this  service  eight  years  and  "The  Lord  was  pleased  to 
bless  his  labors,  so  that  notwithstanding  the  distance  and 
hardship  of  the  road,  a  goodly  number  attended  at  Har- 
mony on  the  Sabbath,  and  upwards  of  thirty  persons 
joined  the  Communion  and  became  regular  members  of 
Harmony  Church." 

In  1813  the  Evangelical  Church  of  Upper  Mt. 
Bethel,  and  also  the  St.  James  Church  near  what  is  now 
Delaware  Station,  requested  Mr.  Hunt's  services  a  part 
of  his  time.  This  was  allowed  by  Presbytery,  and  in 
October  of  the  same  year  he  was  called  to  Oxford  for  one- 
fourth  part  of  his  time. 

In  August,  1815,  Mr.  Sloan,  ever  mindful  of  the 
interests  of  this  church,  preached  here  and  reminded  the 
people  that  it  was  very  inconvenient  for  their  minister  to 
have  charge  of  congregations  situated  so  far  apart, 
that  it  was  their  duty  and  would  be  a  great  privilege  to 
attend  worship  every  Sabbath  with  their  families,  and  re- 
quested the  congregation  to  raise  $300  (!)  yearly  for 
Mr.  Hunt's  support  and  have  the  whole  of  his  time. 
This  was  agreed  to.  A  church  was  organized  on  Scott's 
Mountain  November  29,  1815.  The  congregation  built 
a  church.  Mr.  Hunt  preached  there  after  leaving  Har- 
mony, and  subsequent  pastors  of  this  church  preached  and 
did  pastoral  work.  It  was  afterwards  supplied  by  pas- 
tors of  neighboring  churches  and  theological  students,  but 
had  a  feeble  existence  and  was  finally  dissolved  upon  the 
organization  of  the  Stewartsville  Church  in  1850.  It  was 
re-organized  in  1867  as  the  Montana  Church,  and  a  new 
building  erected,  since  burned.  Hr.  Hunt  also  formed  a 
church  at  New  Village  and  preached  there  for  a  time. 
He  died  at  an  advanced  age  at  the  home  of  his  son-in-law, 
Louis  Cline,  whose  father,  Louis  Cline,  Sr.,  was  one  of 
the  first  members  of  this  church.  Mr.  Hunt  belonged  to 
the  distinguished  Hunt  family  of  ministers.  He  was 
noted  for  some  eccentricities.    One  of  his  peculiarities  was 


16  Harmony  Centennial 

the  baptizing  of  children  of  persons  not  church  members. 
Eighty-seven  baptisms  of  infants  are  recorded  in  one  year 
and  one  hundred  in  another.  When  Presbytery  took 
notice,  and  inquired  of  Elder  Peter  Kline,  How  this  could 
be?  the  good  Elder  replied,  "O,  we  galloped  from  house 
to  house."  The  people  in  general  in  this  community  knew 
little  about  Presbyterianism  in  those  early  days.  The 
church  had  been  formed  by  a  union  of  Presbyterians, 
Lutherans,  Episcopalians,  and  we  think  some  Methodists, 
the  Presbyterians  having  a  half  interest.  The  ground  for 
the  church  and  cemetery  was  given  by  a  Scotchman,  Wil- 
liam Gardner,  who  said  he  "would  gi'e  it  for  a  Presby- 
terian Church,  but  no  ither."  And  when  the  Lutherans 
seemed  to  be  gaining  the  ascendency  it  was  thought  best 
to  separate,  and  there  were  stormy  times,  the  Lutherans 
having  no  desire  to  be  divided.  The  climax  came  on  the 
occasion  of  the  funeral  of  a  child,  which  the  Lutherans, 
led  by  their  pastor.  Rev.  Mr.  Heck,  desired  to  hold  in 
the  church.  It  was  probably  on  a  Sabbath  morning,  and 
they  were  not  allowed  to  enter  the  building  lest  they  make 
it  a  pretext  for  future  possession.  In  these  days  of 
fraternity  and  unity,  we  cannot  understand  this  act  on  the 
part  of  the  Presbyterians,  but  we  must  remember  those 
were  the  days  of  the  founding  of  the  churches.  The  officers 
were  acquainted  with  the  circumstances  and  were  loyal 
to  the  Presbytery  under  the  care  of  which  the  church  was. 
The  Lutherans  and  Methodists  then  united  and  built 
the  "Old  Red  Church,"  on  the  site  of  the  present  M.  E. 
edifice,  the  Methodists  holding  service  in  the  morning  and 
the  Lutherans  in  the  afternoon.  Rev.  Mr.  McCronn, 
of  St.  James'  Church,  was  a  well-remembered  pastor. 
On  account  of  diminished  membership  the  Lutherans  dis- 
banded, some  connecting  themselves  with  the  M.  E. 
Church  and  some  with  the  Presbyterian.  The  Raubs, 
Kochs  and  Oberlings  were  Lutherans,  also  Andrew  Miller, 
but  he  always  adhered  to  this  church.  The  Methodist 
Church  continues  in  growth  and  usefulness,  and  we  cor- 


Harmony  Centennial  17 

dially  greet  and  welcome  its  members,our  friends,  here 
to-day,  especially  in  remembrance  of  their  kindness  when 
we  worshipped  together,  by  their  invitation,  during  the 
re-building  of  this  church  in  1860. 

Rev.  Lemuel  Fordham  Leake  was  the  second 
pastor,  coming  in  1818,  serving  as  stated  supply  until 
1822,  when  he  was  installed  pastor.  Mr.  Leake  was  a 
native  of  Chester,  Morris  county,  and  a  student  of  Rev. 
Joseph  Campbell.  He  was  a  graduate  of  Princeton  Col- 
lege and  was  two  years  in  the  Seminary.  He  served 
Oxford  and  Harmony  until  1825,  when  his  relation  to 
Oxford  was  dissolved.  He  continued  pastor  at  Harmony 
until  1828,  a  period  of  ten  years  in  all.  He  married  Miss 
Mary  White,  daughter  of  Colonel  Alexander  and  Sarah 
White,  in  the  old  historic  stone  mansion  standing  by  the 
roadside  on  the  way  to  Belvidere.  Tradition  tells  us  that 
General  Washington  stayed  in  this  house  over  night,  and 
that  General  William  Henry  Harrison  stopped  here  on 
his  Presidential  campaign  tour  in  1840.  Mrs.  Leake 
lived  but  one  year  after  marriage.  Mr.  Leake  was  a  man 
of  "remarkable  scholarship,  peculiar  temperament  and 
positive  opinions."  In  the  issues  which  divided  the  church 
in  1837  and  1838  he  was  one  of  the  most  rigid  of  the  Old 
School  party.  When  here,  his  sermons  were  doctrinal, 
helpful  and  well  calculated  to  build  up  this  congregation. 
His  sermons  on  faith  were  long  spoken  of.  The  Cate- 
chism, both  shorter  and  larger,  were  studied  and  often 
recited  to  him  in  church.  He  resigned  his  charge  here 
and,  after  doing  mission  work  in  this  Presbytery  and  Vir- 
ginia, traveling  a  thousand  miles  In  one  year,  succeeded 
Rev.  Dr.  McMillen  in  the  old  Chartier's  Church,  Wash- 
ington county,  Pa.,  and  married  Miss  Catharine  Ritchie, 
of  Canonsburg.  He  was  at  one  time  in  charge  of  Frank- 
lin College,  New  Athens,  Ohio,  then  removed  to  Terra 
Haute,  Indiana,  and  died  in  1866.  He  once  returned  on 
a  visit  and  preached  here.  He  was  tall,  slender  and  very 
ministerial  in  appearance.      We  spent  a  delightful  day 


18  Harmony  Centennial 

with  him  in  the  Grandfather  Fair  homestead,  one  of  his 
old  homes,  and  he  asked  us  some  Catechism  and  proofs. 

Rev.  John  Vanderveer,  who  for  many  years  kept  a 
renowned  classical  school  in  Easton,  supplied  the  pulpit 
for  a  year,  1828-1829.  Then  Rev.  James  E.  Watson,  a 
licentiate,  served  the  church  for  a  time.  Mr.  Watson  also 
returned  and  preached  here  on  one  occasion  when  pastor 
at  Milton,  Pa. 

Rev.  Robert  Love,  the  third  pastor,  was  a  licen- 
tiate of  New  Castle,  Pa.,  Presbytery,  from  the  old  historic 
Fagg's  Manor  Church  In  Chester  county,  founded  in 
1739,  of  which  his  grandfather,  John  Love,  was  one  of 
the  founders  and  first  elders.  He  was  educated  at  the 
"Moscow  Academy,"  under  the  famous  Latta  brothers. 
Mr.  Love  had  just  graduated  from  Princeton  Theologi- 
cal Seminary,  and  on  recommendation  of  Rev.  John  Gray, 
of  Easton,  came  to  Mt.  Bethel  and  Harmony  to  preach 
in  September,  1831.  He  continued  as  stated  supply  until 
1836,  when,  owing  to  the  difficulty  of  crossing  the  river 
in  Winter,  some  times  having  to  go  by  Belvldere  or  Eas- 
ton, he  withdrew  from  Mt.  Bethel,  to  the  great  regret  of 
of  the  people,  and  Harmony  was  again  united  with  Ox- 
ford and  Mr.  Love  was  installed  pastor  of  these  churches 
May  2,  1836.  In  June,  1832,  he  was  married  to  Ann 
Thompson  Fair,  who  had  been  baptized  in  Andrew 
Miller's  barn  in  1806  and  had  grown  up  under  Mr. 
Leake's  ministry  with  its  catechetical  teaching  and  strong 
doctrinal  preaching.  There  was  thus  a  union  of  Fair  and 
Love,  and  united,  they  dwelt  in  Harmony.  About  the  time 
Oxford  and  Harmony  united  a  new  church  was  talked 
about.  The  old  frame  had  served  its  purpose.  It  had 
been  willingly  and  cheerfully  built,  and  doubtless  entered 
with  joy  and  thankfulness.  Many  of  the  log  dwelling- 
houses  had  been  replaced  by  the  substantial  stone  struc- 
tures still  In  use.  Other  congregations  were  erecting  new 
houses  of  worship,  and  It  is  creditable  to  Harmony  con- 
gregation that  it  desired  a  better  building.     A  congrega- 


Harmony  Centennial  19 

tional  meeting  was  held  March  11,  1836,  when  it  was 
"Resolved,  That  the  old  church  should  be  taken  down 
as  soon  as  arrangements  could  be  made  and  a  new  one 
erected  in  its  place;  the  new  one  to  be  at  least  sixty  feet 
long  and  forty-five  in  width.  Jacob  Winter,  Esq.,  Jacob 
Chne,  Esq.,  Jacob  Miller,  William  Hutchinson  and  Eseck 
H.  DeWitt  be  a  committee  to  circulate  the  following  sub- 
scription:" $1,418  were  pledged,  nine  prominent  mem- 
bers subscribed  $100  each.  There  were  sixty-eight  names 
in  all. 

On  April  2d  of  the  same  year,  1836,  at  a  congrega- 
tional meeting  it  was  "Resolved — that  Jacob  Cline,  Esq., 
Peter  Winter,  Samuel  Vannatta  and  William  Kennedy  be 
a  committee  to  draft  a  plan  for  the  new  church  and  report 
as  soon  as  convenient."  The  subsequent  events  are  not 
recorded  and  we  do  not  know  why  the  building  was  not 
proceeded  with  then.  The  pastor's  charge  was  large, 
extending  to  Oxford  Furnace  and  over  Scott's  Mountain. 

These  were  laborious  days  for  pastors.  Their  large 
fields  of  labor,  exposure  to  the  weather  by  riding  about  on 
horseback  through  storms  and  deep  snows,  the  weeks  of 
assistance  rendered  to  one  another  in  "protracted  meet- 
ings," the  burden  of  souls  to  be  saved  and  possibly  the 
want  of  unity  and  co-operation  among  the  people.  These 
labors  began  to  tell  upon  the  Harmony  pastor  and  his 
none  too  robust  frame  succumbed  to  the  pressure.  A  few 
weeks  of  sickness,  and  on  October  9,  1838,  the  labors  of 
earth  were  exchanged  for  the  more  abundant  service  and 
rest  of  Heaven,  and  there  was  a  solemn  scene  in  the  old 
church,  filled  with  friends,  brethren  in  the  ministry  and 
sorrowing  congregations.  The  funeral  sermon  was 
preached  by  the  Rev.  John  Gray,  of  Easton,  from  the 
text,  "They  shall  walk  with  me  in  white  for  they  are 
worthy,"  Rev.  3  :6.  On  the  breast  of  the  deceased,  by 
his  request,  was  placed  a  few  verses  of  Paul's  parting 
charge  to  the  church  at  Ephesus,  Acts  20:25-27,  "And 
now  behold  I  know  that  ye  all,  among  whom  I  have  gone 


20  Harmony  Centennial 

preaching  the  kingdom  of  God,  shall  see  my  face  no  more. 
Wherefore  I  take  you  to  record  this  day  that  I  am  free 
from  the  blood  of  all  men.  For  I  have  not  shunned  to 
declare  unto  you  all  the  counsel  of  God." 

Over  the  mortal  remains  of  the  pastor,  husband  and 
father  the  widowed  mother,  supported  by  her  brother- 
in-law,  Rev.  Thomas  Love,  presented  her  infant  daugh- 
ter for  baptism.  Rev.  I.  N.  Candee,  of  Belvidere,  adr 
ministered  the  solemn  ordinance. 

On  this  "  Funeral  Baptism  "  Margaret  Junkin, 
daughter  of  Rev.  Dr.  George  Junkin,  afterwards  Mrs. 
Preston,  of  Virginia,  wrote  a  poem,  a  few  lines  of  which 
are  given : 

"Where  is  he?    Ask  that  funeral  bier? 
And  list  the  sigh — and  see  the  tear — 
Know  ye  that  God  hath  borne  away 
Their  pastor  from  their  head  to-day? 
Above  the  cold  unconscious  dead 
Baptismal  vows  are  feebly  said. 
Alone — alone — she  bears  the  load 
To  train  that  infant  heart  for  God ! 
Alone?   Alone?   No!  mourning  one. 
Thou  wilt  not  bear  thy  task  alone ! 
An  angel  father  will  he  still 
A  spirit  guard  from  earthly  ill — 
And  when  her  bark  hath  crossed  life's  seas 
And  nears  her  port — Eternity, 
A  joyful  pilot  he  will  come 
To  guide  his  daughter's  spirit  home." 

(This  was  the  heritage  of  your  historian.) 

Bravely  and  cheerfully  that  mother  took  up  her  task. 
Her  four  children  have  ever  retained  in  sacred  remem- 
brance that  cheerful,  self-sacrificing  spirit.  The  memory 
of  the  father,  his  life,  his  dying  prayers — their  only  legacy 


Harmony  Centennial  21 

— ever  held  up  before  them;  the  Sabbath  evening  gath- 
ering at  the  fireside,  the  Catechism,  the  song,  the  Scrip- 
ture read,  and  then  the  earnest  prayer;  the  church,  pastor 
and  missions  always  remembered.  The  oldest  son,  in 
after  professional  years,  wrote  his  mother  on  each  suc- 
ceeding birthday,  thanking  her  for  that  early  training. 

Of  Mr.  Love's  ministry  Rev.  John  Gray  said:  "He 
was  a  faithful,  laborious  and  efficient  pastor.  His  mani- 
fold labors  were  not  omitted  until  the  hand  of  death 
arrested  him,  and  his  deathbed  was  a  place  of  anxiety 
and  prayer,  especially  on  behalf  of  young  converts.  He 
longed  for  a  greater  missionary  spirit  among  the  people." 
One  of  his  last  acts  was  to  pay  over  a  sum  of  money  to 
Foreign  Missions,  and  his  lament  was  that  it  was  not 
greater. 

Presbytery  supplied  the  church  for  several  months, 
and  in  1839  the  fourth  pastor.  Rev.  John  J.  Carrell, 
was  called.  Mr.  Carrell  was  from  Tinicum,  Bucks 
county.  Pa.,  a  graduate  of  Lafayette  College  and  Prince- 
ton Seminary.  He  married  Miss  Leonora  Heckman,  of 
Easton,  a  lady  of  refinement  and  wit.  She  was  a  sister 
of  the  late  Rev.  George  C.  Heckman,  D.D.,  and  General 
Charles  Heckman,  whose  services  to  church  and  country 
are  well  known.  Mr.  Carrell  was  ordained,  and  installed 
over  Oxford  and  Harmony  November  19,  1839.  He 
continued  to  preach  at  Oxford  until  October  3,  1842, 
when  he  gave  all  his  time  to  Harmony.  In  1840  the 
building  of  the  new  house  of  worship  again  came  to  the 
front  and  at  a  congregational  meeting  Jacob  Cline,  Esq., 
John  Hoff,  Joseph  Miller,  Peter  Winter,  William  Mer- 
ritt  and  John  B.  Hutchinson  were  appointed  a  building 
committee.  Just  after  this  meeting  the  old  church  was 
burned  down  from  overheated  stoves.  The  new  church 
was  built  of  stone  in  the  style  then  in  vogue.  There  was  no 
vestibule.  The  pulpit  was  a  gem  for  those  days.  It  was 
of  moderate  height,  with  winding  stairs,  having  railings 
and  placed  on  the  south  side  of  the  church  between  the 


22  Harmony  Centennial 

front  doors.  The  gallery,  extending  around  three  sides 
of  the  church,  was  reached  by  stairs  at  the  front.  There 
were  four  rows  of  pews  and  two  aisles.  It  was  heated  by 
stoves  in  the  front  and  back  of  the  church,  and  lighted  by 
oil  lamps  with  large  globes  suspended  from  brackets  in 
the  gallery  fronts.  There  were  also  very  tall  pulpit 
lamps.  The  cost  of  the  church,  including  furnishing,  was 
$4,035.18.  There  was  a  settee  in  the  pulpit  and  the  arm 
chairs  in  front  are  still  in  use  in  the  lecture  room. 
At  the  dedication  hymns  were  sung,  composed  for  the 
occasion,  by  Mrs.  Jane  L.  Gray,  the  gifted  wife  of  Rev. 
John  Gray,  and  by  her  brother,  Rev.  James  Lowers. 
Mr.  Carrell  was  very  handsome,  dignified  in  appearance 
and  an  able  sermonizer.  His  sermons  were  too  deep  for 
children  to  understand,  but  one  sermon  we  have  always 
remembered  in  part,  the  famous  "Grape  Shot  Sermon," 
when  Mr.  Carrell  placed  himself  in  the  attitude  of  Cap- 
tain Bragg  and  threw  grape  shot  into  Santa  Anna's  forces. 
It  was  the  time  of  the  Mexican  war,  1847.  The  short- 
comings of  prominent  members  were  reviewed  under  this 
simile  or  allegorical  discourse.  History  tells  us  that  when 
General  Taylor,  in  command  of  the  American  army,  saw 
signs  of  wavering  in  Santa  Anna's  line  he  exclaimed,  "Give 
them  a  little  more  grape  shot,  Captain  Bragg."  and  Mr. 
Carrell  preached  a  second  sermon,  reaching  those  who 
had  been  omitted  in  the  first.  There  were  needed  reforms 
in  the  congregation.  The  people  had  not  yet  arrived  at 
the  stage  of  proper  support  of  the  pastor,  but  it  is  credit- 
able to  the  trustees  to  say  that  they  were  doing  what  they 
could  to  put  the  temporal  affairs  of  the  church  in  a  satis- 
factory condition. 

After  a  pastorate  of  nine  years  Mr.  Carrell  resigned 
in  1848.  He  had  some  very  warm  friends  here  and  left 
his  first  charge  and  his  pleasant  home  in  Union  Town 
with  regret.  He  was  afterwards  pastor  at  Groveland, 
N.  Y.  They  had  two  sons.  Prof.  Charles,  of  Elmira, 
N.  Y.,  and  Edward,  who  married  a  sister  of  Mrs.  Irwin 


Harmony  Centennial  23 

Miller  and  died  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion.  A  little 
daughter,  Ellen,  is  buried  in  this  cemetery.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Carrell  spent  the  closing  days  of  Mr.  Carrell's  life  in  Eas- 
ton,  and  they  often  came  up  to  visit  and  Mr.  Carrell  to 
preach  by  request.  At  a  revival  service  he  told  of  a 
marked  awakening  that  took  place  during  his  ministry 
here. 

Rev.  John  Skinner,  D.D.,  was  the  fifth  pastor, 
from  May  7,  1849-1853.  Dr.  Skinner  was  a  portly  dig- 
nified man  of  great  ability  and  a  fine  public  speaker.  He 
came  to  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Lexington,  Virginia, 
from  the  United  Secession  Church,  Glasgow,  Scotland,  and 
was  called  from  there  to  the  newly  formed  Second  Pres- 
byterian Church  in  Easton.  That  church,  not  being  able 
to  entirely  support  a  pastor,  united  with  Harmony.  Dr. 
Skinner  preached  here  in  the  morning  and  at  Easton  in 
the  afternoon.  After  the  disbanding  of  the  Easton 
church  he  continued  here  for  a  year.  His  wife  was  a  very 
interesting  Scotch  woman  of  high  connections.  They  had 
five  sons  and  one  daughter.  On  leaving  Easton,  as  there 
was  no  parsonage  here,  the  family  returned  to  Scotland. 
The  oldest  son,  now  judge,  William  Erskine  Skinner,  re- 
returned  to  this  country,  studied  law,  married  a  daughter 
of  the  late  David  Ryerson,  of  Newton,  and  they  are  now 
living  retired  on  their  farm  at  Still  Water,  having  eight 
living  children,  all  in  good  positions.  The  church  was 
repainted  and  carpeted  in  the  aisles  in  Dr.  Skinner's  time. 
On  coming  in  to  view  it  he  said,  "It  reminded  him  of 
Joseph's  coat,"  on  account  of  its  many  colors.  Dr.  Skin- 
ner was  a  great  smoker  and  quite  a  politician,  but  we 
remember  with  gratitude  his  eloquent  effective  sermons. 
He  rode  about  on  horseback,  wearing  leggings  in  muddy 
weather,  and  finally  rode  off  and  left  us.  He  went  to 
Hamilton,  Canada,  and  was  afterwards  pastor  in  London, 
Canada,  where  he  died.  When  the  family  went  to  Scot- 
land he  presented  Miss  Mary  Fair  a  small  finely-bound 
Bible  with  their  names  beautifully  inscribed  on  the  flyleaf 


24  Harmony  Centennial 

with  his  own  hand — "A  small  token  of  his  gratitude  for 
her  generous  and  unwearied  kindness  to  himself  and 
them."   The  Bible  is  now  the  property  of  the  historian. 

Rev.  Andrew  Tully,  the  sixth  pastor,  was  a 
Scotchman  also,  and  came  to  these  parts  by  way  of  Canada. 
He  was  a  brother  of  Rev.  David  Tully,  at  one  time  pastor 
at  Belvidere  and  still  living  (1907)  in  his  ninetieth  year, 
and  a  nephew  of  the  historic  David  Tully,  who  with  his 
wife  and  youngest  child  was  captured  and  murdered  by 
the  Indians  while  on  their  way  from  Winnipeg,  Canada. 
The  two  older  boys,  John  and  Andrew,  were  saved  by 
a  squaw  and  rescued  by  troops  at  Fort  Snelling.  This 
Andrew  and  our  pastor  were  first  cousins. 

Mr.  Tully  was  a  graduate  of  Lafayette  College  and 
Princeton  Seminary,  and  when  a  student  had  spent  much 
time  in  Mr.  Love's  family.  He  was  called  to  Mt.  Bethel, 
where  he  was  greatly  beloved,  and  thence  to  Harmony  in 
1854.  He  was  a  faithful,  laborious  pastor,  and  in  his 
pastoral  visits  had  a  special  faculty  of  drawing  out  the 
feelings  of  the  younger  members  of  the  family  and  giving 
them  needed  spiritual  advice  and  encouragement.  Special 
services  were  held  every  Winter,  on  one  occasion  continu- 
ing several  weeks,  when  he  was  assisted  by  many  brethren, 
and  resulted  in  a  large  Ingathering  of  future  supporters 
of  the  church.  One  of  them,  S.  P.  Love,  son  of  the  for- 
mer pastor,  was  afterwards  an  elder  in  Mr.  Tully's  church 
at  Portland,  Pa. 

The  first  parsonage  was  acquired  when  Mr.  Tully 
came,  the  inconvenient  one  down  by  Holden's  mill,  which 
was  afterwards  changed  for  the  dear  old  parsonage  be- 
hind the  hill,  where  we  have  welcomed  pastors  and  their 
families  and  had  such  happy  social  times.  The  church 
was  completely  renovated,  and  under  Mr.  Tully's  super- 
vision was  beautifully  and  tastefully  done.  Every  part 
harmonized.  With  new  carpet  and  pulpit  furniture  it 
was  a  very  neat  church.  After  leaving  Harmony,  In 
1861,   Mr.  Tully  preached  at  MorrlsvIUe,   Pa.,  then  at 


Harmony  Centennial  25 

Beemerville,  N.  J.  His  closing  ministry  was  at  Portland, 
Pa.,  where  he  was  very  happy  and  useful  and  much  loved 
by  his  people.  His  wife  was  Miss  Susan  Coolbaugh,  who 
was  always  popular  with  the  people.  The  son,  Abram 
Coolbaugh  Tully,  is  living  in  New  York.  City,  and  the 
daughter,  Mrs.  Kate  Dunning,  with  her  interesting 
family,  resides  at  Deckertown,  N.  J.  The  remains  of  Mr. 
Carrell  and  Mr.  Tully,  with  their  wives,  rest  in  Easton 
cemetery. 

Rev.  David  Kerr  Freeman,  the  seventh  pastor, 
was  called  with  great  unanimity  and  was  ordained  in 
this  church  and  installed  December  13,  1862.  Mr. 
Freeman  was  a  native  of  Blairstown,  educated  at  Blair 
Hall,  Lafayette  College,  and  Danville  Theological  Semi- 
nary, having  studied  law  under  Jehiel  G.  Shipman,  Esq., 
a  year  before  entering  the  Seminary;  and  on  leaving  it, 
at  the  beginning  of  the  Civil  War,  spent  a  few  months 
preaching  in  Louisiana.  He  took  a  lively  interest  in  the 
work  of  the  Ladies'  Aid  for  the  Sick  and  Wounded. 
Mrs.  Love  was  president  of  that  society  and  Mrs.  Joseph 
Miller,  Secretary.  The  pastor  was  always  at  the  meet- 
ings held  in  the  parsonage,  though  not  yet  an  occupant, 
to  help  and  encourage.  Ever  the  most  genial  of  men, 
Mr.  Freeman  gained  the  hearts  of  his  people  and  is  still 
remembered  with  pleasure.  The  congregation  was  then, 
perhaps,  in  its  most  flourishing  state.  The  farming  com- 
munity was  at  its  height  of  prosperity,  and  the  church 
had  not  then  begun  to  suffer  by  death  and  removal  of 
families.  The  salary  was  increased  several  hundred  dol- 
lars. A  large  Bible  Class  was  one  of  the  features  of  this 
pastorate  and  there  was  a  special  ingathering,  when  many 
young  people  came  into  the  church. 

Mr.  Freeman  made  a  strong  effort  to  have  the 
church  building  remodeled,  but  the  time  had  not  yet 
come.  The  tie  lot  was  acquired  and  sheds  erected. 
Heretofore  there  were  "tie  posts"  up  and  down  the  road. 
The  pastor  tied  under  the  big  tree  by  the  church.     There 


26  Harmony  Centennial 

was  a  long  row  of  horses  and  carriages,  and  it  was  very 
dangerous  on  dark  nights,  and  on  a  funeral  occasion  the 
teacher,  on  opening  the  schoolhouse  door,  found  a  horse 
tied  to  the  door  knob. 

Mr.  Freeman  was  called  from  here  to  Mendham, 
N.  J.,  in  1869,  and  he  accepted  the  call.  From  Mend- 
ham  he  went  to  the  Washburn  Street  Church,  Scranton, 
Pa.  When  there  he  was  honored  with  the  degree  of 
D.D.  He  was  called  from  Scranton  to  Huntingdon,  Pa., 
where  he  spent  the  last  quarter  of  a  century  of  his  min- 
istry, greatly  honored  and  beloved  by  his  people  and 
brethren.  Dr.  Freeman  became  a  great  student  of  ecclesi- 
astical history  and  a  strong  doctrinal  preacher.  He  loved 
the  Presbyterian  Church  and  stood  firm  as  a  rock  on  its 
teachings.  He  died  at  Huntingdon  June  10th  of  this 
year  (1907)  a  short  time  before  the  twenty-fifth  anni- 
versary of  his  pastorate  there,  for  which  he  was  pre- 
paring. Dr.  Freeman  married  Miss  Henrietta  Wil- 
drich,  of  Blairstown,  who  was  the  first  pastor's  bride  at 
the  Harmony  parsonage.  She  was  very  much  loved  here 
and  elsewhere,  especially  at  Huntingdon.  Mrs.  Freeman, 
with  two  daughters  and  a  son.  Dr.  Henry  Freeman,  are 
living.  You  remember  "Cordie,"  now  a  talented  and 
cultivated  singer,  also  Annie,  Now  Mrs.  Reed,  of  Phila- 
delphia, all  children  of  the  parsonage.  One  daughter, 
Belle,  died  in  childhood.  (We  are  sorry  not  to  give  Dr. 
Freeman's  photograph  as  he  was  in  the  days  of  his 
pastorate,  but  all  will  enjoy  seeing  him  as  he  was  in 
later  years.) 

Rev.  Henry  Egidius  Spayd,  the  eighth  pastor, 
came  in  1870  and  was  here  fourteen  years.  It  is  pleasant 
to  speak  of  Mr.  Spayd's  earnestness  and  devotion  to  duty. 
His  sermons  were  practical  and  full  of  Christ  crucified, 
and  his  daily  life  was  an  incentive  to  higher,  holier  living. 
Mr.  Spayd  was  a  grandson  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Bibighaus, 
of  the  Reformed  Church,  a  native  of  Philadelphia  and  a 
graduate  of  Lafayette  College  and  Princeton  Seminary. 


Harmony  Centennial  27 

He  married  Miss  Sarah  Barnes,  of  Easton,  and  had  been 
pastor  fourteen  years  of  the  old  Solebury  church,  now 
Thompson  Memorial,  Bucks  county.  Pa.  He  was  called 
to  Harmony  from  Strasburg,  Pa.,  where  he  had  been 
three  years.  Pastoral  visits  were  faithfully  made.  The 
Week  of  Prayer  always  observed  and  special  services  held 
every  Winter,  neighboring  pastors  and  others  assisting, 
and  some  times,  evangelists.  Several  seasons  of  revival 
were  enjoyed.  Bible  Class  was  held  the  year  round.  In 
Winter  the  class  went  from  house  to  house.  Land  was 
purchased  and  the  cemetery,  which  had  become  crowded 
and  was  illy  kept,  was  enlarged  during  Mr.  Spayd's  pas- 
torate. Cemetery  trustees  were  appointed  and  the  ground 
was  divided  in  plots,  which  were  sold.  We  think  no 
other  pastor  loved  the  parsonage  behind  the  hill  as  well 
as  Mr.  Spayd.  It  became  home  to  him  and  it  was  his 
delight  to  care  for  it.  The  pastorate  had  been  long  and 
the  church  during  this  time  arrived  at  its  highest  mem- 
bership. In  April,  1876,  there  were  270  communicants 
on  the  roll  and  the  benevolences  of  the  church  had  greatly 
increased.  Mr.  Spayd  was  one  who  observed  the  Bible 
rule  of  giving.  But  the  church  began  to  suffer  by  deaths 
and  removals.  The  farmhouses,  occupied  for  generations 
by  church-going  and  supporting  people,  passed  into  the 
hands  of  others,  and  it  was  no  longer  possible  to  keep 
up  the  salary  to  the  standard  adopted  in  Mr.  Freeman's 
time.  Mr.  Spayd  resigned  the  charge,  preaching  his 
last  sermon  August  3,  1884.  He  removed  to  Easton 
and  preached  very  acceptably  at  Delaware  Station  for  a 
time,  then  went  to  Wilkesbarre  and  served  the  Plains 
church  for  twenty-two  years.  On  the  fiftieth  anniversary 
of  his  ministry  he  was  highly  honored  by  his  brethren  of 
Lackawanna  Presbytery.  A  reception  was  given  him  and 
Mrs.  Spayd  and  resolutions  of  esteem  and  appreciation 
were  passed  by  Presbytery.  Faithful  and  active  to  the 
last,    he    triumphed   over   the    frail,    wornout   body   and 


28  Harmony  Centennial 

literally  died  in  harness  September  19,  1906,  on  the  Sab- 
bath he  had  expected  to  preach  his  farewell  sermon  and 
resign  his  active  ministry. 

Woman's  Work  for  Women  was  organized  during 
Mr.  Spayd's  ministry.  Mrs.  Spayd  was  very  valuable 
help,  directing  and  guiding  us  and  doing  a  large  share  of 
work  herself.  Her  large  Bible  Class  of  young  ladies 
were  her  faithful  assistants. 

Rev.  Roderick  Provost  Cobb,  the  ninth  pastor, 
came  in  the  Spring  of  1885.  He  was  born  In  Virginia, 
educated  at  Franklin  and  Marshall  College,  Lancaster, 
Pa.,  and  was  still  in  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Prince- 
ton when  called  here.  There  had  been  several  months 
of  supplies  and  candidates  and  discouragements,  but  the 
people  united  and  the  call  was  unanimous.  Mr.  Cobb 
came  to  us  with  all  the  energy  and  enthusiasm  of  youth 
and  the  desire  to  be  a  faithful  servant  of  his  Master.  He 
was  ordained  and  installed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Newton 
on  a  beatuiful  afternoon  May  19,  1885.  His  pastor. 
Rev.  James  Y.  Mitchell,  of  Lancaster,  preached  the  ser- 
mon and  made  the  ordaining  prayer.  It  was  a  solemn. 
Impressive  service.  The  church  was  filled  with  brethren 
of  the  Presbytery,  the  entire  congregation  and  many  from 
neighboring  churches.  Mr.  Spayd  assisted  in  the  ordina- 
tion rites  of  his  successor.  The  advent  of  the  young 
enthusiastic  pastor  Inspired  the  congregation  with  new 
life  and  energy.  His  plain  and  earnest  preaching,  his 
sociability  and  general  loveable  qualities  drew  the  people 
to  him.  Sabbath  congregations  increased,  Sunday  School 
flourished  and  the  Woman's  Missionary  Society  held 
bravely  on  Its  way,  in  fact  began  to  stir  up  things  as  well 
as  talk  about  them.  The  suggestion,  that  "we  ought  to 
do  something  for  our  church,"  met  with  Immediate  re- 
sponse. Plans  were  laid  for  work  and  pledges  made,  in 
addition  to  mission  work.  The  old  church  was  In  a  very 
dilapidated  condition  though  it  had  been  repaired  in  Mr. 
Spayd's  pastorate.     Mr.  Cobb  preached  a  strong  sermon 


Harmony  Centennial  29 

he  had  for  some  time  been  contemplating,  and  under  his 
inspiration  and  encouragement  and  the  co-operation  of  the 
people  the  work  began  and  progressed  in  earnest.  A  con- 
gregational meeting  was  called  and  it  was  voted  to  build 
an  entire  new  church  on  the  ground  where  the  new  school 
building  now  stands.  The  building  committee  appointed 
was  composed  of  Samuel  A.  Depue,  chairman;  IVIathias 
Brakeley,  George  G.  DeWitt,  Charles  Ramsay,  treasurer; 
Irwin  Miller,  Peter  Kline  and  John  Calvin  Amey. 

The  older  members  could  not  desert  this  old  conse- 
crated site  and  it  was  thought  the  old  building,  if  left 
standing,  would  become  an  eye  sore.  Consequently  at 
the  next  meeting  the  vote  was  reconsidered  and  it  was 
decided  to  take  down  the  old  church  in  part  and  rebuild 
it  as  we  have  it  now.  We  held  a  "farewell  service"  on  the 
Sabbath  afternoon  previous  to  its  dismantling.  On  the 
front  of  the  pulpit  was  the  text  "I  have  fought  a  good 
fight  *  *  *  I  have  kept  the  faith,"  which  Rev.  Mr. 
Long,  of  the  Greenwich  Mother  Church,  made  the  basis 
of  his  remarks. 

The  comer  stone  of  the  new  building,  containing 
church  and  Sunday  School  records,  a  pocket  Bible  and  the 
newspapers  of  the  day,  was  laid  by  the  pastor  on  a  beau- 
tiful Summer  afternoon  (we  have  not  the  date) ,  Rev.  Mr. 
Bruen,  of  Belvidere,  and  other  ministers  taking  part  in  the 
exercises.  Many  of  us,  and  especially  the  pastor,  were  dis- 
appointed that  the  new  building  was  not  a  modern  one, 
but  when  it  was  complete  and  the  bell  rang  out  its  call 
for  worship  there  was  great  joy  and  thankfulness.  It  was 
dedicated  December  15,  1886.  Rev.  Franklin  Miller,  of 
Easton  First  Church,  preached  the  sermon;  Rev.  Mr. 
Cobb,  the  pastor,  made  the  dedicatory  prayer;  Rev. 
Thomas  S.  Long,  just  then  leaving  Greenwich,  took  part 
in  the  services;  also  Rev.  Messrs.  Cline,  Thomson, 
Hutchinson,  Seelye  and  Apgar.  A  cottage  organ  was 
presented  to  the  church  on  that  day  by  Mr.  Henry  Teel, 
who  returned  to  us  from  Stewartsville  church,  where  the 


30  Harmony  Centennial 

family  had  worshiped  for  many  years.  Miss  Anna  Teel 
gave  the  pulpit  Bible  and  pulpit  lamp  and  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Miller  the  hymn  book.  Mr.  Depue,  in  his  report,  paid 
noble  tribute  to  the  pastor,  who  "by  his  prudence,  fidelity 
and  zeal,  had  been  largely  instrumental  in  the  success  of 
the  enterprise."  The  entire  cost  of  the  building  was 
$8,170.  Of  this  amount  the  ladies  raised  $454.27,  pur- 
chasing the  pulpit  furniture,  chandelier  and  carpet,  and 
afterwards  raised  additional  money  for  blinds  and  mat- 
ting in  the  Sunday  School  room  and  furnishing  the  church 
kitchen.  Then  came  the  fulfillment  of  the  promise,  "Bring 
ye  all  the  tithes  into  the  store  house,  and  I  will  pour  you 
out  a  blessing."  In  connection  with  neighboring  churches, 
notably  Belvidere,  a  season  of  spiritual  refreshing  was 
experienced  and  at  the  close  of  the  Interesting  special 
services,  conducted  almost  entirely  by  the  pastor,  a  large 
number  were  added  to  the  church.  Mr.  Cobb's  mother 
had  presided  over  the  parsonage  and  was  highly  esteemed 
by  all.  Just  before  the  dedication  of  the  church  the  pas- 
tor brought  his  bride,  who  was  Miss  Annie  Stewart,  of 
York,  Pa.  Mrs.  Cobb  was  of  a  superior  Presbyterian 
family  of  church  workers  and  at  once  entered  into  our  life 
and  work.  She  was  a  fine  pianist  and  cultivated  singer, 
and  also  played  the  guitar.  She  established  a  Woman's 
Prayer  Meeting  and  sealed  lips  were  opened,  and  also 
organized  the  "Earning  Workers'  Mission  Band." 

This  pleasant,  helpful  pastorate  came  to  a  close  all 
too  soon.  Mr.  Cobb,  being  called  to  MerchantvIUe,  N. 
J.,  resigned  the  charge  In  the  Spring  of  1888.  In  his 
closing  sermon,  from  the  text  Phil.  4:1,  he  remarked  that 
"The  spirit  of  harmony  had  never  been  violated  since  he 
came  to  this  place.  No  communion  season  had  passed 
without  additions  to  the  church  membership,  eighty-three 
in  all.  There  had  been  raised  and  reported  to  Presbytery 
$12,000,  and  there  had  been  a  steady  increase  in  benevo- 
lent contributions."    They  have  one  son,  Randolph. 


Harmony  Centennial  31 

Mr.  Cobb  had  a  successful  ministry  at  Merchant- 
ville.  His  views  changing,  he  entered  the  Episcopal 
Church.  In  his  parishes  at  Crosswicks  and  Rahway,  N. 
J.,  Troy,  N.  Y.,  and  at  Doylestown,  Pa.,  he  has  shown 
the  same  zeal  and  devotion  that  characterized  his  Har- 
mony pastorate.  We  are  pained  to  learn  of  his  severe 
illness,    preventing   his   taking   part   in   this   anniversary. 

Rev.  Isaac  Davison  Decker,  the  tenth  pastor, 
was  called  in  1888,  after  only  a  few  months  vacancy.  He 
was  a  graduate  of  Blair  Hall,  Princeton  College  and 
Seminary,  and  came  to  us  from  his  first  pastorate,  Fair- 
view,  Butler  county.  Pa.  He  was  a  man  of  ability,  schol- 
arly attainments  and  earnestness  of  purpose  and  had  fine 
social  qualities.  We  had  a  "Literary"  and  a  paper,  "The 
Wreath,"  edited  by  Mr.  Decker  and  read  by  him  at  our 
meetings.  We  recall  "The  Blueny  Hen,"  an  original 
poem;  "Moses"  calling  up  the  dead  on  tours  of  observa- 
tion and  reflection  and  very  much  more.  The  mid-week 
prayer  meetings  were  well  attended,  interesting  and  profit- 
able, also  the  special  Winter  services.  Mr.  Decker  was  a 
fine  bass  singer  and  could  play  the  organ  if  need  be.  He 
suffered  a  great  bereavement  in  the  death  of  his  dear  wife, 
who  was  Miss  Kate  Goble,  of  Fredon,  Sussex  county. 
She  was  suddenly  taken  from  him,  and  we  shared  deeply 
in  his  grief.  She  was  his  great  encouragement  and  help, 
and  our  respected  Missionary  President.  Then  Mr. 
Decker's  mother  was  taken  away  and  the  parsonage  was 
desolate  indeed.  He  was  called  in  the  Spring  of  1893  to 
West  Sunbury,  Pa.,  near  his  first  charge,  and  suddenly 
died  January  3,  1903.  His  second  wife  was  Miss  Adela 
Aggas,  who,  with  two  sons  and  a  daughter,  survive.  His 
sister,  "Miss  Lyde,"  presided  over  his  home  until  his 
second  marriage.  Rev.  Mr.  Leake  preached  for  a  time  at 
Mt.  Nebo,  very  near  Mr.  Decker's  church.  Soon  after 
Mr.  Decker  left,  my  dear  mother  was  called  to  "cross 
the  bar"  to  the  home  above,  and  the  little  cottage  on  the 
corner,  which  had  ever  an  open  door  and  a  cordial  wel- 


32  Harmony  Centennial 

come  for  the  pastor  and  his  family,  where  so  many  con- 
ferences and  pleasant  socials  were  held,  also  numerous 
prayer  and  inquiry  meetings,  where  numbers  had  given 
their  hearts  to  Christ,  where  missionary  meetings  had 
been  held  monthly  for  years,  before  the  rebuilding  of 
the  church  with  its  accommodations,  and,  oh,  so  much 
more  of  which  we  cannot  speak — every  room  seems  con- 
secrated by  prayer — this  home  was  desolate  and  passed 
into  the  hands  of  strangers. 

In  connection  with  this  home  is  the  cherished  mem- 
ory of  neighboring  pastors,  who  in  earlier  years  were  its 
oft  welcome  guests,  Revs.  Candee  and  Clark,  of  Belvi- 
dere;  Castner  and  McNair,  of  Washington;  Junkin  and 
Hand,  of  Greenwich;  Gray,  of  Easton;  Leslie  Irwin,  of 
the  "Settlement"  (Bath);  Tully,  then  of  Mt.  Bethel; 
McWilliams,  of  Oxford,  and  the  genial  Jehiel  Talmage. 

Rev.  Joseph  D.  Hillman,  the  eleventh  pastor,  was 
called  in  October,  1893,  from  a  charge  in  New  York 
State.  He  was  a  native  of  Nazareth,  Pa.,  educated  in  the 
Moravian  College  and  Seminary  and  a  friend  of  Rev.  Mr. 
Reinke,  then  at  Greenwich.  You  are  all  better  acquainted 
with  Mr.  Hillman's  and  the  succeeding  pastorates  than 
myself.  Soon  after  he  came,  the  Ladies'  Aid  was  formed 
and  raised  $1,000  for  frescoing  and  repainting  the 
church  and  making  some  alterations,  rendering  it  much 
more  attractive.  Interesting  services  were  held  on  the  re- 
opening of  the  edifice.  Mrs.  Hillman  was  the  third  bride 
at  the  parsonage,  was  very  much  loved  by  the  people  and 
very  helpful.  She  formed  a  Christian  Endeavor  Society, 
which  continued  for  some  time  with  much  interest.  They 
have  one  daughter,  Jessie,  a  child  of  the  old  parsonage. 
After  a  pleasant  pastorate  of  more  than  seven  years  Mr. 
Hillman  was  called,  in  1901,  to  Mt.  Freedom,  N.  J.,  and 
recently  to  New  Milford,  Pa.,  where  he  succeeds  Rev. 
Leo.  R.  Burrows,  who  had  followed  him  at  Harmony. 
Mr.  Hillman  is  the  only  one  of  the  former  pastors  who 
can  be  here  on  this  occasion. 


Harmony  Centennial  33 

Rev.  Leopold  Reid  Burrows,  the  twelfth  pastor, 
was  a  Scotchman  by  birth.  His  father  is  a  prominent 
minister  in  Hamilton,  Bermuda.  He  was  educated  at 
Princeton  College  and  Seminary  and  this  was  his  first 
charge.  He  was  ordained  and  installed  pastor  July  10, 
1902.  We  have  been  told  that  Mr.  Burrows  was  spec- 
ially popular  among  the  young  people,  that  services  were 
well  attended,  and  that  he  was  very  faithful  in  pastoral 
visits,  always  having  prayer  and  very  attentive  to  the 
sick.  When  he  resigned  in  October,  1904,  he  was  pre- 
sented with  a  purse  of  $58  by  the  young  people,  a  token 
of  their  appreciation.  His  next  charge  was  at  New  Mil- 
ford,  Pa.,  where  he  married  and  is  now  preaching  at 
Nanticoke,  Pa.     Illness  prevents  his  being  here  to-day. 

Rev.  Edward  Snyder,  the  thirteenth  pastor,  was 
born  in  the  Province  of  Ontario,  Canada,  and  took  his 
college  course  at  Toronto  and  his  theological  course  at 
Princeton.  He  and  Rev.  Mr.  Cobb  were  classmates.  Mr. 
Snyder  married  Miss  Mary  Dodd,  a  Canadian  like  him- 
self. He  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Bruns- 
wick and  installed  pastor  of  the  Stockton  Church  in  1885. 
He  served  several  churches  in  the  Synod  of  New  York  and 
was  called  here  from  North  Hardyston,  Sussex  county, 
N.  J.,  and  installed  April  6,  1905.  Rev.  Hugh  Walker, 
of  Greenwich,  preached  the  sermon.  Rev.  J.  C.  Clyde, 
D.D.,  charged  the  people  and  Rev.  E.  C.  Cline  charged 
the  pastor.  It  had  long  been  felt  that  a  manse  more  con- 
venient to  the  church  was  needed.  The  old  parsonage 
was  needing  repairs  and  was  sold.  When  Mr.  Snyder 
came  it  was  decided  to  build.  The  lot  chosen  was  a  part 
of  the  land  purchased  by  Rev.  Mr.  Love  and  so  long 
occupied  by  his  family.  The  new  manse  stands  in  close 
proximity  to  the  home,  for  sixty  years  so  closely  identified 
with  all  the  interests  of  this  church.  Services  are  well 
attended,  the  interest  increasing.  There  are  now  140  on 
the  communicant  roll.  Sunday  School  is  flourishing.  The 
Bible   Class,  which  has  been   a  main   feature,   beginning 


34  Harmony  Centennial 

with  Mr.  Leake's  pastorate,  is  continued  with  interest  and 
profit.  Sabbath  afternoon  services  are  held  at  Brainard's 
where  a  union  chapel  has  been  built  (Mr.  Tully  wanted 
a  chapel  there,  predicting  it  would  some  day  be  a  town) 
and  at  Roxburg.  There  was  formerly  preaching  at  But- 
tonwood  Grove  and  also  at  Union  Town,  Squire  Cline's 
neighborhood,  and  flourishing  Sunday  Schools  at  all  these 
outlying  points.  There  has  been  a  marked  improvement 
in  the  singing  in  Mr.  Snyder's  pastorate,  chiefly,  we  are 
told,  through  the  efforts  of  Mr.  Irwin  Miller.  Mrs. 
George  Lommason  is  the  faithful,  capable  organist. 
Other  organists  have  been  Maggie  Cline,  Anna  (Cline) 
Fine,  Mrs.  Belle  Amey,  Freeman  Weller,  Edna  (Cline) 
Tinsman  and  Mrs.  Abram  Raub. 

Small  legacies  have  been  left  this  church  and  ceme- 
tery by  Peter  DeWitt  and  James  Goodwin,  Miss  Mary 
Fair  and  Mrs.  Dr.  G.  H.  Cline.  "  The  Ladies'  Aid," 
started  anew  in  Mr.  Hillman's  time,  have  raised  $1 160.93 
The  new  parsonage,  including  land,  cost  $2,800. 

Sunday  School  was  organized  here  March  12,  1820. 
Abraham  DeWitt  was  the  first  superintendent,  and  it  so 
flourished  under  his  care  that  it  was  reported  the  second 
best  in  the  Sunday  School  Union.  The  rules  laid  down  by 
Mr.  DeWitt  would  do  credit  to  a  modern  Sunday  School, 
and  the  yearly  reports  are  models.  The  Shorter  Cate- 
chism and  Larger  were  studied,  also  Scripture  and  hymns. 
The  recitations  were  wonderful.  The  grand  total  for  the 
school  for  one  period  of  six  months  was  29,485  Scripture 
verses,  7,782  hymns  and  5.058  Catechism.  Mrs.  Eseck 
H.  DeWitt  could  recite  the  Larger  Catechism  to  the  close 
of  her  life.  One  reason  Mr.  DeWitt  gave  for  the  pros- 
perity of  the  school  was  the  "lively  interest  of  the  pastor, 
Rev.  L.  F.  Leake,"  and  another  reason,  "the  regular  attend- 
ance and  diligence  of  the  teachers."  After  Mr.  DeWitt  left 
John  Maxwell  Fair  was  superintendent  for  nine  years. 
Within  our  recollection  the  superintendents  have  been 
Peter  Winter,  Joseph  Koch,   Rev.   Messrs.  Tully,   Free- 


Harmony  Centennial  35 

man  and  Spayd;  William  I.  Teel,  Irwin  Miller,  Thomas 
F.  DeWitt,  and  now  Jesse  Raub.  Elder  Jacob  Cline  was 
superintendent  at  Union  Town,  and  Elder  James  DeWitt, 
at  Buttonwood  Grove.  Sunday  school  was  for  many 
years  held  in  the  schoolhouse  standing  in  the  southeast 
corner  of  the  cemetery  and  the  library  books  kept  in  the 
chimney  closet,  where  they  moulded  during  the  Winter. 
The  first  duty  when  shool  opened  in  the  Spring  was  to 
collect  money  to  buy  books.  In  Mr.  Tully's  time  Sunday 
School  was  removed  to  the  gallery  of  the  church  and  a 
book  case  provided. 

In  Mr.  Spayd's  ministry  the  Westminster  Lessons, 
at  the  very  beginning  of  the  system,  were  taken  up  and 
the  school  held  all  the  year.  There  was  a  new  library,  both 
books  and  case,  and  the  check  system  adopted  for  the 
preservation  of  the  books.  Miss  Jennie  Love  was  secre- 
tary eighteen  years,  until  her  removal,  then  Miss  Martha 
Miller,  followed  by  Joseph  Mackay,  who  has  been  faith- 
ful for  many  years.  Contributions  for  Missions  in  the 
classes,  separately,  were  begun,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Spayd  lead- 
ing in  their  large  classes. 

After  the  rebuilding  of  the  church  in  Mr.  Cobb's 
time  and  the  conveniences  of  the  new  Sunday  School  room 
the  school  was  very  large.  Mrs.  Cobb  taught  a  large 
class  of  adults,  all  ladies.  Mr.  Cobb  taught  the  men. 
The  Primary  Department  was  inaugurated  and  continued 
under  different  teachers  to  the  present  time.  The  old 
books  were  again  thrown  out  and  an  almost  entire  new 
library  selected  under  the  supervision  of  a  committee. 

The  Woman's  Auxiliary  Foreign  Missionary 
Society,  named  "The  Love  Memorial,"  in  memory  of 
the  third  pastor,  was  organized  March  2,  1876,  by  Mrs. 
Thomas  McCauley,  president  of  Newton  Presbyterial 
Society.  About  fifty  members  joined  at  the  first  two  meet- 
ings. The  first  officers  were :  President,  Mrs.  Mary 
Barber  Raub;  vice-president,  Mrs.  Samuel  Depue;  secre- 
tary.  Miss  Jennie   Love;   treasurer,   Mrs.   Irwin   Miller. 


36  Harmony  Centennial 

Mrs.  Spayd  was  afterwards  treasurer  until  her  removal 
from  Harmony,  and  Mrs.  Irwin  Miller  succeeded  Miss 
Love  on  her  removal  to  Trenton  after  a  service  of  eigh- 
teen years,  and  Miss  Jennie  Cline  was  treasurer  until  her 
call  to  the  home  above.  When  Mrs.  Raub  removed  to 
Stewartsville  Mrs.  Susan  Cline  was  chosen  president  and 
faithfully  served  until  her  death  in  1906,  except  during 
Mr.  Decker's  pastorate,  when  Mrs.  Decker  was  the 
efficient  president.  Mrs.  Snyder  has  succeeded  to  the 
work.  May  she  have  the  encouragement  and  success  it 
deserves. 

In  the  second  year  of  the  society  Home  Missions 
Work  was  added  to  Foreign,  and  the  Young  People's 
Band  was  organized,  and  under  Mrs.  Spayd's  control  did 
good  work  for  several  years.  It  was  finally  merged  in  the 
Auxiliary  Society,  and  Mrs.  Cobb  organized  an  "Earning 
Workers'  Band."  True  to  their  name,  the  members 
earned  their  money.  After  Mrs.  Cobb  left  it  flourished 
for  a  time  under  Mrs.  Amzi  Miller's  care,  and  then  Miss 
Martha  Miller,  but  finally  disbanded  for  want  of  a  leader. 
The  twenty-fifth  anniversary  of  the  organization  of  the 
society  was  celebrated  in  this  church  in  connection  with  a 
Fall  meeting  of  the  Newton  Presbyterial  Society,  and  by 
Invitation  the  first  secretary  returned  and  made  the  quar- 
ter of  a  century  report.  $2,066.66  was  reported  for  the 
twenty-five  years  from  the  Auxiliary  Society,  Young 
People's  Branch  and  Earning  Workers'  Band;  an  average 
of  $82.64  a  year.  This  was  widely  dispersed  in  India, 
Africa,  Japan  and  other  foreign  countries,  and  through- 
out our  own  land,  including  the  Freedman.  Meetings 
have  been  held  monthly,  and  in  our  reports  to  the  Pres- 
byterial Society  we  were  often  complimented  on  our  aver- 
age attendance,  comparing  well  with  town  societies.  The 
larger  part  of  the  original  members  have  joined  the 
church  above,  and  numbers  of  our  former  young  people 
are  active,  efficient  members  in  other  flourishing  churches. 


Harmony  Centennial  37 

The  People.  We  mention  some  of  the  past  gene- 
rations, within  our  recollection,  who  have  worshiped  here 
Time  will  not  permit  us  to  name  all.  Squire  Jacob  Cline, 
an  elder  in  every  sense  of  the  word,  with  his  estimable 
family.  Peter  Winter,  another  member  of  the  session, 
superintendent  of  the  Sabbath  School  for  many  years, 
translated  in  a  moment  of  time  and  followed  to  the  grave 
by  the  whole  school.  Squire  Jacob  Winter,  a  brother. 
They  lived  on  contiguous  farms,  now  owned  by  the 
Amys,  one  of  which  was  formerly  the  Kennedy  property. 
Both  brothers  moved  to  the  vicinity  of  the  church. 
Robert  Davison  and  his  interesting  family,  who  could 
recite  his  Catechism  perfectly  in  church  in  clear,  ringing 
tones  so  pleasant  to  hear.  General  James  Davison  and 
his  family.  William  Hutchison,  with  his  large  family 
of  fine  singers.  John  Barclay  was  the  father  of  Mrs. 
Samuel  Depue,  Mrs.  E.  C.  Cline  and  James  K.  P.  Hutch- 
ison, who  died  in  youth.  The  different  DeWitt  families, 
always  important  factors  in  this  church  and  the  M.  E. 
Church.  We  recall  the  helpfulness  in  later  years  of 
Elder  James  DeWitt.  The  Millers — Andrew,  his  son 
Joseph  with  his  family  of  church-goers,  one  of  whom  is 
Elder  Irwin  Miller;  Major  Jacob  Miller,  precentor, 
singing  school  teacher  and  choir  leader.  His  son  Henry, 
recently  deceased,  was  a  life-long  help  in  choir  and  Sab- 
bath School,  with  his  family.  John  Fair  and  his 
estimable  wife  and  family.  Mrs.  Fair's  kindness  to  the 
poor  was  proverbial.  Squire  Thomas  D.  was  trustee  and 
treasurer  for  many  years.  In  early  days  the  Fair  home- 
stead was  the  "Ministers'  Home."  Adam  Ramsay  and 
his  helpful  wife.  Elder  Charles  Ramsay  is  a  linieal 
descendant  of  the  Greenwich  mother  church,  of  which 
his  grandfather  was  an  elder.  The  Vannattas — Samuel 
Vannatta,  Sr.,  was  one  of  the  original  highly-respected 
members  of  the  church,  always  loyal  to  the  church  and 
pastor.  The  pleasant  voice  in  song  of  Silas  B.  Vannatta 
lingers   with   us   still.      Elder  William   Vannatta,   whose 


38  Harmony  Centennial 

commodious  home,  now  Dr.  Bozzard's  became  the 
resting  place  of  the  minister.  The  Klines — two  fami- 
lies side  by  side  for  several  generations.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Peter  Kline,  Jr.,  are  keeping  up  the  sucession.  It  is  one 
of  the  old  homesteads  not  devastated  by  time.  Elder 
George  Brakeley,  such  a  genial  whole-souled  man. 
Mathias  was  long  a  trustee.  The  Brakeley  home  became 
a  later  "Minister's  Home,"  in  the  times  of  candidates 
and  supplies.  The  Hoffs — We  recall  Abel  and  John  in 
the  oid  stone  homestead,  now  the  Vannatta  property. 
The  Youngs,  descendants  of  a  first  elder.  Henry  Young, 
a  trustee,  who  was  always  helpful  to  church  and  pastor. 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Miller  was  a  Young.  She  is  one  of  the 
oldest  members.  You  know  her  quiet,  gentle  demeanor, 
friendship  for  her  pastors  and  love  for  the  study  of  God's 
word.  The  Kochs — Jacob  and  his  sons.  Joseph  was  a 
respected  and  useful  elder  here  for  many  years,  until  his 
removal  to  Pen  Argyl,  where  he  again  served  until  his 
death.  The  Ameys — Peter  and  sons  and  grandsons  with 
their  families.  Mrs.  Holloway  Amey  {nee  Koch)  is 
probably  the  oldest  member  in  the  church.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Joseph  Mackey,  Sr.  We  remember  their  comfort- 
able home  on  the  hill,  which  was  previously  the  "Insley 
home,"  the  maternal  ancestors  of  John  I.  Blair.  The 
Reileys — Burroughs  Reiley,  who  owned  the  mill  and  the 
property  which  became  the  parsonage,  was  a  brother  of 
Rev.  John  Reiley,  so  long  pastor  at  Blairstown,  and  an 
uncle  of  J.  I.  B.  Reiley,  of  Phillipsburg.  William  Reiley, 
a  Greenwich  man  and  a  trustee,  is  now  with  his  family 
in  Phillipsburg.  The  Galloways — Lemuel  Leake,  Gar- 
ner and  Robert,  the  latter  a  sexton.  Jacob  Randall  was 
one  of  the  earliest  sextons.  Morgan  B.  Hineline  was 
sexton  for  many  years  and  the  friend  of  everyone.  He 
sometimes  "started  the  hymns"  in  prayer  meeting  and 
Sunday  School,  singing  the  good  old  tunes  we  still  love 
to  hear.  Marshall  Engler  was  a  later  sexton.  The 
Aliens — What  a   load  of  them  came   to   church.       The 


Harmony  Centennial  39 

Raubs — Mrs.  Lydia  Raub  is  one  of  the  oldest  living 
members  of  the  church  and  Missionary  Society.  Mr. 
Hiram  Bachman  has  long  been  a  faithful  trustee  and 
treasurer  of  the  church  (since  deceased,  June  6,  1908). 
Elder  Jacob  Shimer  was  a  strong  advocate  of  the  Bible 
Society.  Dr.  G.  H.  Cline  and  his  large  family,  who  all 
professed  Christ  in  early  youth.  Elder  Garner  Cline  is 
now  in  Westminster  Church,  PhiUipsburg;  also  John 
Kiefer's  family.  John  L.  Cline  has  been  a  ruling  elder 
many  years  and  his  son,  Howard,  a  trustee. 

Mrs.  Irwin  Miller  came  to  this  church  from  Grove- 
land,  N.  Y.,  and  has  been  a  constant  help.  Mrs.  Jesse 
Raub,  from  Mt.  Bethel,  is  faithful  in  all  good  work. 
Mrs.  Charles  Ramsay,  in  close  proximity  to  the  church, 
her  home  has  ever  been  at  its  convenience  and  her  help 
gratefully  recalled.  The  wives  of  Madison  Amey, 
George  and  John  came  to  us  from  neighboring  churches; 
also  Mrs.  Peter  Kline,  from  Hope,  so  that  this  church 
has  received  as  well  as  given.  Mrs.  Joseph  Mackey,  Jr., 
has  recently  been  called  away,  leaving  a  vacant  place  in 
home  and  church. 

The  Sons  of  the  Church,  who  have  entered  pro- 
fessions. In  the  ministry — Rev.  Abraham  DeWitt,  who 
had  a  life-time  charge  in  Maryland.  Rev.  Samuel  Gal- 
loway, one  of  Mr.  Leake's  students  of  wonderful  mem- 
ory, went  westward.  Rev.  E.  Clarke  Cline,  son  of  Elder 
Jacob  Cline,  baptized  by  Rev.  Mr.  Love,  has  been  for 
forty  years  stated  clerk  of  Newton  Presbytery.  His 
book  of  Presbyterial  Records  is  pronounced  "Finest  in 
the  Synod."  He  was  chaplain  of  the  11th  Regiment  of 
New  Jersey  Volunteers  in  the  Civil  War  and  yet  meets 
with  his  comrades.  Was  graduated  from  Lafayette  Col- 
lege and  Princeton  Theological  Seminary;  pastor  at  Ox- 
ford Second  for  many  years,  then  organizer  and  pastor 
of  the  Westminster  Church,  PhiUipsburg,  which  was  built 
through  his  efforts;  now  pastor  emeritus.  His  bow  still 
abides  in  strength.     Rev.  John  Carroll  Davison,  son  of 


40  Harmony  Centennial 

Robert,  a  student  of  Drew  Theological  Seminary,  has 
been  for  thirty-five  years  a  highly-valued  missionary  in 
Japan  in  the  M.  E.  Church.  His  sister,  Mary  Frances, 
is  the  wife  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Julius  Soper,  of  the  M.  E. 
Mission,  Aoyama,  Japan,  who  has  had  honorable  men- 
tion for  his  great  services,  especially  in  the  temperance 
cause.  Mrs.  Soper  has  addressed  churches  and  societies 
on  mission  work  on  her  home  visits.  The  children  of 
both  families  are  following  in  the  footsteps  of  their 
parents.  Rev.  Thomas  T.  Mutchler,  M.D.,  of  Phila- 
delphia, son  of  Garner  Mutchler  and  grandson  of  Gen- 
eral James  Davison,  is  president  of  the  International 
Federation  of  Sunday  Rest  Associations  of  America  and 
secretary  of  the  Philadelphia  association.  Dr.  Mutchler 
gave  up  a  lucrative  medical  practice  that  he  might  preach 
the  Gospel.  He  is  doing  a  grand  work  in  civic  reform. 
His  wife  is  a  daughter  of  the  late  Silas  B.  Vannatta. 
William  Cline,  son  of  Dr.  G.  H.  Cline,  cut  off  his  col- 
lege course,  preparatory  to  entering  the  ministry.  Rev. 
Joseph  Howell,  the  popular  pastor  of  Hamilton  Square, 
N.  J.,  Presbyterian  Church  and  so  prominent  in  the  tem- 
perance cause  and  all  municipal  reform,  is  a  grandson  of 
the  church  in  the  Eseck  H.  DeWitt  family. 

In  the  medical  profession — Dr.  J.  J.  H.  Love,  son 
of  the  third  pastor,  late  of  Montclair,  N.  J.,  who  stood 
at  the  head  of  his  profession,  loved  and  honored  and 
active  in  all  progressive  movements.  His  sister,  Rebecca 
Fair  Love,  wife  of  Dr.  David  Warman,  has  long  occu- 
pied an  important  place  in  Trenton  churches  and  in 
benevolent  and  charitable  organizations.  Dr.  Jacob 
Castner  Winter,  early  taken  away.  Dr.  Peter  Winter 
Brakeley,  of  Dunellen,  N.  J.,  the  son  and  grandson  of 
Elders  Dr.  William  Kline,  of  Phillipsburg;  Dr.  Charles 
Cline,  of  Hackettstown.  Dr.  Arthur  Weller,  of  Orange. 
Dr.  Calvin  Davison,  of  Stanhope,  son  of  Robert  Davison, 
Barclay  Hutchison,  son  of  Samuel   Depue,   a  promising 


Harmony  Centennial  41 

young  man,  called  to  the  better  land  while  pursuing  his 
medical  studies.  Clyde  Kennedy  Miller  is  in  Philadel- 
phia, taking  his  medical  course  (since  graduated). 

Some  other  professional  men,  who  have  gone  from 
this  church,  attendants  and  graduates  of  Lafayette  Col- 
lege— Judge  Silas  B.  DeWitt.  Professor  Jacob  Person, 
a  talented  young  man,  early  deceased.  Hugh  McNair 
Miller,  a  successful  chemist  in  Braddock,  Pa.  John  Car- 
roll DeWitt,  whose  heart  was  in  the  study  of  medicine, 
but  prevented  from  taking  his  course,  is  now  a  good 
business  man,  and  his  wife  a  talented  singer.  Arthur 
Snyder,  son  of  the  pastor,  an  honor  graduate  of  Blair 
Hall,  is  in  college.  Raymond  Raub,  in  Classical  School, 
preparing  for  college,  and  other  young  men  are  pursuing 
their  studies,  while  many  of  the  baptized  sons  and  daugh- 
ters of  the  church  are  in  positions  of  usefulness  in  other 
communities.  Hervey  Love,  grandson  of  the  pastor,  is 
an  elder  in  Olivet  Church,  Easton.  Susan  Raub  Hartung, 
the  wife  of  an  elder,  in  the  same  church.  Anna  Hess 
became  the  wife  of  Rev.  Dr.  James  H.  Hunter,  a  pastor 
at  Deerfield,  N.  J.,  Green  Castle,  and  Norristown,  Pa. 

How  wide-reaching  is  this  church  in  its  influence. 
We  have  seen  it  from  its  feeble  beginning,  with  37  com- 
municants in  1809.  The  next  year  there  were  53;  the 
next  77,  and  in  1813  increased  to  109,  on  down  through 
the  century;  270,  its  highest  number,  and  now  holding 
its  way  through  the  difficulties  of  changed  conditions  with 
140  communicants,  and  its  sons  and  daughters  active  in 
nearby  and  remote  fields,  even  beyond  the  ocean.  We  do 
not  know  how  many  members  in  all  have  been  on  the  roll. 

In  bygone  days  it  was  not  an  easy  field  of  labor. 
Other  pastors  than  Mr.  Carroll  have  occasionally 
thrown  grape  shot,  and  yet  forgetting  the  hindrances 
of  the  way  all  have  looked  back  with  pleasure  to  their 
labors  and  residence  here.  Differences  among  the  people 
have  been  laid  aside  and  with  the  coming  of  a  new  pastor 
together  have  started  anew. 


42  Harmony  Centennial 

The  length  of  time  traversed  causes  this  narrative 
to  be  wearisome,  and  much  is  left  unsaid. 

We  hope  and  pray  for  Heaven's  best  blessings  to 
rest  upon  this  church.  How  beautiful  for  situation  it  is! 
What  a  grand  panorama,  in  these  hills  and  valleys,  is 
spread  out  before  us !  With  numbers  so  diminished,  by 
death  and  removal,  we  cannot  expect  "the  former  days," 
but  we  will  cherish  their  memory,  and  with  this  new  cen- 
tury of  the  church  hope  for  new  spiritual  life  and  tem- 
poral growth. 

May  you  and  your  descendants,  who  remain  here, 
ever  be  faithful  to  it  in  all  its  interests.  Love  it,  make 
it  your  chief  joy.  Delight  in  its  worship  and  ordinances. 
Be  the  friends  and  helpers  of  the  pastor  and  this  time- 
honored  church  may  yet  "Blossom  as  the  rose."  Let  each 
one  of  us,  from  the  depths  of  our  hearts,  say: 

"I  love  Thy  kingdom.  Lord, 
The  house  of  Thine  abode. 
The  church  our  dear  Redeemer  saved 
With  His  own  precious  blood." 

"I  love  Thy  church,  O  God: 

Her  walls  before  Thee  stand, 
Dear  as  the  apple  of  Thine  eye. 
And  graven  on  Thy  hand. 

"Sure  as  Thy  truth  shall  last. 
To  Zion  shall  be  given 
The  brightest  glories  earth  can  yeild, 
And  brighter  bliss  of  heaven." 


Princeton  Theological  Seminary  Libraries 


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GAYLORD  BROS.  Inc. 

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Stockton,  Calif. 


